He's also had a finger bitten off by a cat, almost been trampled by a bear and has been dragged about 20 feet by a dog.

This week's rescue wasn't nearly as dangerous. But something tells us the dying fawn appreciated it just as much.

Sloat, Hopatcong's animal control officer, found it on the side of the road after it had been hit by a car.

When he arrived, it tried running from him, Sloat said. But he was able to pick it up, load it into his van and race it to Antler Ridge Wildlife Sanctuary in Newton.

There, Dr. Karen Dashfield operated on the fawn, which needed its leg amputated and its wounds closed.

Sloat said he's hopeful the deer can recover.

"I've seen many deer living and walking on three legs," he said.

The state's 2012-2013 deer harvest killed 49,942 of the animals, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

But when asked why he saved it rather than euthanize it, Sloat didn't hesitate.

"That's my job," he said. 'To save the lives of the animals. That's the big reason I do this job. Sometimes it's heartbreaking. Sometimes it's gratifying. If I can save a life, it's worth the world. This job gives me great pleasure or great despair. But there's always the next animal that needs my help."